Hockey Times by Marcus Feferman

Issue 1 Volume 1 October 2011

Preseason Ranking

NHL NCAA ACHA

Sargis the Next One On page 4

ACHA HOCKEY Taking Over College Hockey

Bauer Gear up Go time is around the corner

Available at most hockey pro-shops Or visit or website www.bauerhockey.com

Issue 1 Volume 1 October 2011

Starting Line Up 2 minutes to kill Reality Check...................................................................... 4 Interview with Chet Feferman

Coaches Corner................................................................... 5 Four different skill levels

The Next One..................................................................... 9 Garhett Sargis

Hockey History................................................................. 10 We owe our lives to Plante

Ranking........................................................................... 11 NHL, NCAA, ACHA

At center Ice ACHA Hockey The New Force in College Hockey....... 6 The college hockey world has seen a growth like no other sports. Just twenty years ago the ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) had 15 men’s hockey teams. Fast ward to 2011 there are now 450 teams in five divisions split between three men’s and two women’s leagues. As the number in teams grew so did the talent. Before a pool of high school hockey players dominated the top men’s division I, now its common to find JR. hockey players from the USHL and NAHL. Just ten years ago it was maybe one or two JR. A hockey players in the ACHA, currently most rosters contain two three JR. A players. No one would have imaged league started in Chicago by coaches could become the new choice for hockey players to attend.

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Marcus Feferman Marcus Feferman

Marcus Feferman Marcus Feferman Marcus Feferman

Marcus Feferman Marcus Feferman Marcus Feferman Marcus Feferman Marcus Feferman

Reality Check By: Marcus Feferman

his months interview is from a very unique individual, Chet Feferman started at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, an NCAA division III school. After only one year he left school and hockey behind to find himself. Nine years later, Feferman is back at a new school, a new league and new teammates surrounded by student athletes who weren’t even out of grade school when Feferman graduated high school. Now he finds himself in a heated battle to become Robert Morris University’s top goaltender. MF: Chet, you started at Milwaukee

School of Engineering, but you only lasted one year. What made you leave a program that finished 8th in the nation in 2011? CF: Actually my first college choice was Northland University in Ashland Wisconsin, but once Coach Ostipina convinced me MSOE would be the better choice athletically and educationally I thought I had to go there. I did not know this at the time but I was making the wrong choice for me.

MF: What do you mean? CF: Basically I was accepted over the

MF: CF:

MF:

CF:

MF:

weekend to MSOE. I had never seen the school’s campus let alone the curriculum. It was a very academically demanding school, and I struggled with the high demand of school and sports. So academically you struggled, how about hockey? Of course I did, when I was at school I worried about hockey, at hockey I worried about school. My mind was never able to rest. It was eight years between hockey seasons, and two different leagues NCAA D-III and ACHA what are some of the differences you have noticed between the two divisions? Honestly today there is not too many differences between the leagues. Many of the top teams in the ACHA could compete with the NCAA D-III elite schools. Back when I was at MSOE there were a few schools who could compete against the bottom tear of NCAA D-III schools. Now at RMU, what is the benefits between the leagues?

Issue 1 Volume 1 October 2011

CF: There are actually better benefits at RMU, our locker room is a former NHL locker room. At MSOE we changed in a standard locker room. Some high school hockey teams had a better locker room. The only perk I do miss is getting free equipment. Don’t get me wrong, forwards do receive pants, helmets and gloves, but no sticks. And goalies do not get anything.

“The University of Arizona’s third largest attendance out of all sports is their ice hockey team. They have more fans show up at a hockey game then there are for their women’s basketball games.” MF: What do you think caused the

ACHA to grow the past few years?

CF: It’s not just a few things, there are

plenty of reasons why. For starter most D-III (NCAA) are small, and a lot of hockey players want to have the large campus feel. The ACHA offers schools such as Iowa State, University of Texas and even NCAA D-I and III schools have second teams in the ACHA. Plus there are some schools who out draw NCAA schools. For example the University of Arizona’s third largest attendance out of all sports is their ice hockey team. They have more fans show up at a hockey game then there are for their women’s basketball games. MF: This up coming year will be your last, where do you go from here? CF: As difficult as it maybe to say, I am not going to the NHL, but my major is one that I am thrilled to spend the rest of my life doing. As for hockey I will still be competing. Look out men’s leagues because Chester is coming to dominate you all. And who knows maybe one day the NHL will call, probably for design skills or a media guide.

MF: Do you think you will ever coach? CF: I have coached already. It was

hard, I was still young and thought, how could these kids not give it your all. But again it was in my youth and I thought all hockey players should have the same devotion to the game as I did, and you can not expect the same in all other hockey players. I may do it again a lot later in life. If I was to coach in the short term, it would be for private training. It is a lot easier for me to coach one on one then try to concentrate on a team of players.

COACHES CORNER By: Marcus Feferman o

x x x

Drill

Both players will start on the whistle. The forward will start without a puck the puck in the corner. The defenseman will be at center ice with the puck. The defenseman will skate to the blue line pass the puck to the forward and start skating backwards at the same time. It will be come a one on one as the forward tries to score on the goal opposite side of the ice from the which he started . This will help the defense learn gap control. Make sure the forward is not more then five feet in front of him. Also make sure to explain to the d-man not to let the forward pass him on the inside. The forward should have nothing but the outside of the ice to skate.

x x

x x x

Tip

Drill

Tip

At this level players should be learning the basics of cycling. This is a good tool to help players learn to talk, which will make cycling easier. Also explain to the forwards they must be staggered so the defenseman canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take the two out by standing in the middle.

o oo

Drill

Forwards will start in the circle skate to the net and shoot, then skate to the other circle receive a pass from the other line of forwards make a drop pass to the forward who passed the puck break in on a two on one. The defenseman will start on the blue line in the center of the ice and play his normal two on one.

x x x

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to want to tell the point man to be looking either back door on a hard pass, or keep the puck low for a tip. One should hang back door for a redirect; the other should sit right in front of the goalie keeping his stick on the ice for a redirect. Explain if it hits their skate the ref has the chance to call no goal for kicking.

Tip

Forwards will start in the corner one with and one with out the puck, the one with a puck will pass to a point man, the point man will pass to his partner, who will walk in and shoot. The forwards will crash the net and attempting to screen the goalie or tip the puck.

o o o o

There will be four lines of forwards two at the middle of opposite circles. Two lines of defenseman will be standing just inside the blue line. The forward in the circle will skate in and shoot, skate around the and receive a pass from the other line of forwards. That line of forwards will receive a pass from the line of defenseman who will skate in and pass to a the forward not shooting. It will be a 2-1 all the way done until there is a shot net.

oo o o

Drill

Tip

Forwards should know at this level to know to be moving the puck the whole way down, if not make sure they do. As players move towards the goal, defenseman should play the body of the forward with out the puck and allow the goalie to take the shooter.

ACHA HOCKEY The ACHA was established in 1991, with a handful of teams. Today the league has grown into three men’s divisions and two women’s, with well over 300 schools spread through the five divisions. The only question remains, is the ACHA really capable of becoming more popular then NCAA hockey.

By: Marcus Feferman

ollege hockey is going through an identity crisis at the moment. For the past ten years college hockey players flocked to NCAA colleges for the next step. Recently the American College Hockey Association (ACHA for short) has been collecting its share of young talent. Others will argue the ACHA is nothing but club hockey, but is it really. Established on April 20, 1991. Fifteen charter members met in Chicago to discuss the league rules and structure. The goal of the organization was to create an impartial governing body to monitor national tournaments, player eligibility and general oversight. Over the years the ACHA quickly grew to over 150 teams in three men’s divisions. Today there are over 450 teams spread between three men’s divisions, and two women’s. Recently there has been an explosion of talent. Chester Feferman was a former NCAA D-III player at Milwaukee School of Engineering. “I attended MSOE for the academics and hockey, mostly hockey”, Feferman said.“The school had five majors, and if that was not one of the majors you wanted, there were two options, stay in school or find a new university.” Feferman left to play in the ACHA at Robert Morris University (IL). “I heard other players talk about the how well the competition

“ I heard other players talk about the how well the competition had become in the ACHA but still had my doubts.”

had become in the ACHA but still had my doubts. I do have to pay for equipment, but the scholarships provided at RMU more then compensates for the extra costs. Although it would be nice to receive free equipment such as I did at MSOE.” Feferman is not the only student athlete to make the jump to the ACHA. For the upcoming 2011-2012 season there are 65 students who have transferred into the ACHA from the NCAA programs. Transfers are not the only ones who are choosing the ACHA over NCAA. The North American Hockey League (known as NAHL), have been showing up on rosters. NAHL is considered the number two league for JR. hockey players. NAHL’s typically send top players to elite programs in the NCAA D-I and D-III. It used to be two or three NAHL players would show up in the entire ACHA, now some teams have two or three on their rosters. With the benefit of some schools offering each player a scholarship, equipment from the school, and little extra help to apply to the cost of school it is no wonder why student athletes are choosing the ACHA over the NCAA. Tommy Olczyk played in USHL (United States Hockey League), the top league for junior players. Players either will go pro or to top collegiate programs. Olczyk is a very unique position, for

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Continued from page 7

one year he will play for Penn State Nitty Lion’s ACHA team, next year, his team will then make the jump into the NCAA division I ranks. Olczyk says, “I came to Penn State to play for the team in the 2012-2013 season, but the ACHA will be a challenge. It will be no cake walk for our team this year.” While Olczyk may not be underestimating the league, blog sites devoted to the ACHA are a buzz of Penn State already winning the National Championship with NCAA transfers and USHL players. With a team roster of players who could easily make other NCAA teams, Penn State will compete in the ACHA to learn their systems before they take the next step. If there is one thing Penn State can do alone, its prove the talent of the ACHA. The Nitty Lions could go undefeated, win nationals and everyone would say its because of their talent level, but a couple of losses and no national championship could really hurt the NCAA. ACHA teams are looking to prove their league is as elite as NCAA level.

University’s Women’s hockey team just made the jump into NCAA division I hockey for the 2011-2012 season. After six seasons of competitive hockey in the ACHA, Lindenwood’s Lady Lions started to play other NCAA division III schools to see where their team matched up. On a regular basis the Lady Lions beat what was suppose to be a more dominant team. As such since Lindenwood was competitive with a handful of other women’s ACHA hockey teams, those other teams started to play NCAA division III women’s teams and come out with victories. The ACHA women do have a huge gap though. Although teams have shown huge leaps in accruing talent, it’s a few teams. If a team is ranked below the tenth in the nation, it is almost a guaranteed blow out.

Our neighbors to the north have also taken notice of the ACHA. On the men’s side, Iowa State University Come March 2012 the eyes of has taken the trek up the college hockey may drift over to Canada to compete to Cleveland where the ACHA against some of their nationals will be held. Eight Universities. For the teams have a legitimate chance to past two years, Iowa upset Penn State; be ready for the State has competed most entertaining championship against three schools, in all of college hockey. going 0-6 in that time, but with very close Men’s hockey teams are not the scores to the Canaonly ones proving themselves; dian Universities. the ACHA women are showing progress as well. Lindenwood The ACHA women Issue 1 Volume 1 October 2011

too have gone to Canada and done much better. Robert Morris University (IL) has started the last four years going to Canada to compete as they kick off their seasons and have come back with more wins then losses on their trips. Maybe it’s time to take notice of the ACHA. Both men’s and women’s ice hockey have become a force in college hockey. It won’t be long till this start up league of club hockey teams have reached a level higher then NCAA division III, but NCAA division I has nothing too worry about as long as Penn State gets beaten in the 2011-2012 season.

The next one By: Marcus Feferman

he typical ACHA college hockey player averages 25-35 points in a 32 game season, the top ten in the 2010-2011 season had between 67-85 points, and out of those ten eight were seniors. Surpassingly in the mix of the top ten was a freshman from Robert Morris University (IL). This freshman by the name of Garhett Sargis took the ACHA by storm with 35 goals (3rd overall) 34 assists (22nd overall) for a total of 69 points, which landed him 9th in the league. Most hockey players would dream of having great hands to dance around a player. If they don’t have great hands, they wish for speed to blow around the player, or possibly the strength to brush the player aside. When a player has all three talents it’s a recipe for domination. Most players who have the skills of Sargis would have an ego the size of Texas, but not this young man. “A true team player, Sargis is feared by other teams but a blessing in our locker rooms,” says team captain Matt Olson. “He is an asset both on and off the ice. He not always strives to better himself but his teammates as well.” Teammates

through out can’t say a negative comment about Sargis. If someone has had a bad game or a bad month, Sargis is the first person to try and keep your confidence from fading,” Nick Leon said. Watching Sargis skate can be compared to watching Monet paint. Sargis seems to know what every player on the ice will do five seconds before the player does. Jesse Bryant of the University of North Dakota stats, “Every time I had him in my sight it took him less then a second to maneuver around me and moments later the puck was in the net.” Hockey is the fastest game in the world, but when a player has the ability to take the speed even faster, you pray the he stays as long as they can. In football a player with 4.2 speed will make an NFL team. Sargis has the hockey equivalent to 4.2 speed and one day we will see him on a professional roster. STATS FOR 2010-2011 SEASON GAMES

GOALS

ASST

PTS

PIM

GWG

Hockey history By: Marcus Feferman

Extra Fact A true fact is Jacques Plante was credited with the first goalie to wear a mask in the NHL. But the first goaltender mask was a fiberglass fencing mask donned in February 1927 by Queen’s University net minder Elizabeth Graham, mainly to protect her teeth. In 1930, the first crude leather model of a mask was worn by Clint Benedict to protect his broken nose. After recovering from the injury, he abandoned the mask, never wearing one again in his career. At the 1936 Winter Olympics, Teiji Honma wore a mask, similar to the one worn by baseball catchers. The mask was made of leather, and had a wire cage which protected the face, as well as Honma’s large circular glasses. It wasn’t until Plante dawned his mask in 1959 that it became a staple of goaltenders.

ost young players do not realize hockey players never wore helmets. Its impossible to imagine today’s players not wearing helmets. There would not only be a plethora of concussions, but most likely a few deaths a year. We owe our thanks not to a skater but a goalie by the name of Jacques Plante. During a game against the New York Rangers, Plante then playing for Montreal was struck in the face by a puck. At that time teams carried one goalie and had to stop the game in order to stitch up the goalie so he can get back in the game. After Plante was stitched up, he refused to step back on the ice with out his mask. Fearing Plante would be called a coward for wearing a mask, his coach refused to let him step back on. It wasn’t until a referee told the coach to forfeit or they play with no goalie. Eventually the coach gave in and Plante made history by wearing his mask. It was so effective that Plante

Issue 1 Volume 1 October 2011

went on to win his next eight starts in a row. As time progressed more goalies dawned the mask. Even one goalie paid tribute to Plante; Gary Cheveeres used a marker to place stitch like designs across his mask to demonstrate where actual stitches would be placed if the puck were

to have struck his face. As time progressed forwards came to the realization a helmet offers more. Unfortunately for Bill Masterson it came too late. On January 13, 1968, Masterson who played for the Minnesota North Stars (now the Dallas Stars) was hit violently

by two Oakland Seals (now defunct) causing massive head trauma. Thirty hours after his collision, Masterson was pronounced dead. Old time hockey had its greats, but even hard nose veterans such as Toe Blake are quoted saying, “Yea we were tougher, but if I played today I would wear a helmet on top of an-

other helmet. Players are bigger faster stronger then we were. You would have to be mentally insane to wear the equipment we wore.” Let us all thank Mr. Plante for stepping up and saying he is wearing a mask.

Power rankings By: Marcus Feferman

NHL Pre-Season Power Rankings (top 20) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Pittsburgh Penguins Boston Burins Vancouver Canucks Washington Capitals Detroit Red Wings San Jose Sharks Philadelphia Flyers

8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

Tampa Bay Lighting Chicago Blackhawks New Jersey Devils Nashville Predators Anaheim Ducks Los Angeles Kings Montreal Canadians

15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

New York Rangers Buffalo Sabres Toronto Maple Leafs Calgary Flames Carolina Hurricanes St. Louis Blues

*Others Receiving Votes: Phoenix Coyotes, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, Winnipeg Jets (formerly know as the Atlanta Thrashers), New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators

NCAA Division I Power Rankings (top 20) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Minnesota-Duluth North Dakota Michigan Notre Dame Boston College Yale Denver

8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

Miami New Hampshire Merrimack Colorado College Union Western Michigan Nebraska-Omaha

15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

Dartmouth Rensselaer Boston University Air Force Maine Cornell

*Others Receiving Votes: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Alaska-Anchorage, Benidji State, Rochester Institute of Technology, Northeastern, Princeton, St. Cloud State, Ferris State

ACHA Division I Power Rankings (top 20) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Penn State Lindenwood Ohio Delaware Davenport Rhode Island Arizona State

8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

Adrian Oklahoma Robert Morris (IL) Oakland Minot State Stony Brook Canton

15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

Slipper Rock Rutgers Illinois Iowa State Liberty Central Oklahoma

*Others Receiving Votes: Robert Morris (PA),Michigan-Dearborn, Western Michigan, West Virginia, Arizona, Kent State, Syracuse, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, West Chester

Games to watch for the Month of October: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Boston Burins (NHL), Montreal Canadians vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Michigan vs. Michigan State (NCAA), Denver vs. Yale (NCAA), Robert Morris University (IL) vs. Penn State (ACHA), Adrian vs. Iowa State (ACHA)

ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY Hockey is Back

9/30/11

Expect The Extraordinary